Paraguay seeks dedicated beef import quota in United States

Paraguayan President Santiago Peña is advocating for a specific beef import quota for Paraguay in the United States. During an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York, Peña noted that while the U.S. is requesting more Paraguayan meat to help contain domestic prices, the country currently lacks its own dedicated quota.

Instead, Paraguay must compete within a shared category for ‘other countries or areas,’ a space it must navigate alongside larger exporters like Brazil. This shared quota operates on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis. Currently, a temporary expanded quota is available from September 1 until November 30.

According to Senacsa, Paraguay exported 35,443 tons of beef to the U.S. between January and August 2026, totaling US$ 211 million. While the sector initially projected reaching 75,000 tons to the U.S. by the end of 2026, Senacsa President José Carlos Martin suggested a more cautious growth target of approximately 59,000 tons, representing a 20% increase over 2025 levels.